By Solomon OKPO
The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Nigerian Exporters (ANE), Prince Joseph Idiong, has warned that drug trafficking poses a major threat to Nigeria’s export sector, undermining legitimate trade, damaging the country’s international reputation, and increasing the cost of doing business.
Idiong made the remarks in a paper presented on his behalf by Dr. Patrick Omoyeni at the Media Practitioners’ Capacity Building Workshop organised by the Nigerian Online Media Alliance (NOMA) in collaboration with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), the International Society of Substance Use Prevention and Treatment Professionals (ISSUP Nigeria), and the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba.
The workshop, held to commemorate the 2026 International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, was themed “Responsible Media, Drug-Free Nigeria: The Journalist’s Role in Prevention and Advocacy.” It attracted journalists, healthcare professionals, anti-drug advocates, policymakers, and other stakeholders.
In his presentation, Idiong explained that drug traffickers often exploit the same transportation and logistics networks used by legitimate exporters, including airports, seaports, and land borders, exposing genuine businesses to increased scrutiny by international authorities.
According to him, whenever Nigerian ports become associated with illicit drug shipments following seizures by law enforcement agencies, exporters face prolonged inspections, shipment delays, demurrage charges, and missed delivery deadlines, all of which weaken their competitiveness in the global marketplace.
“When a port becomes associated with drug trafficking activities, export containers are subjected to extensive examination procedures, resulting in delays, demurrage charges and delivery deadline failures. This affects the competitiveness of Nigerian exporters in the global market,” he said.
The ANE Director-General stressed that the fight against drug trafficking should be viewed not only as a security and public health concern but also as an economic imperative capable of safeguarding Nigeria’s international trade.
He commended NOMA for organising the workshop and described the media as a strategic partner in promoting public awareness and disseminating accurate information on the dangers of substance abuse.
Idiong urged journalists to rely on credible, evidence-based information from international organisations such as the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) when reporting drug-related issues.
He also encouraged media practitioners to make use of the annual UNODC World Drug Report and other verified sources to enhance accuracy and credibility in their reports.
“Media practitioners must avoid exaggeration, false statistics and stigmatization. Sustainable prevention campaigns require factual information, consistency and strategic partnerships,” he stated.
Idiong further advocated age-specific drug prevention programmes, noting that interventions should focus on emotional development for young children, refusal skills for adolescents, and harm reduction and economic opportunities for older youths.
He called for stronger collaboration among the media, NDLEA, the Federal Ministry of Health, civil society organisations, and international development partners to sustain anti-drug advocacy across the country.
While commending the quality of deliberations at the workshop, he recommended that anti-drug awareness campaigns should extend beyond annual commemorations and become quarterly engagements supported by government institutions, corporate organisations, and public-spirited individuals.
“The campaign against drug abuse and illicit trafficking must be continuous. It should become part of our national conversation through regular public enlightenment and community engagement programmes,” he said.
